FIELD HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
 
The Vermont field hockey team continues non-league action this weekend with a pair of games including its home opener.
 
On Friday the Cats travel to UMass to take on the Minutewomen in Amherst before returning home for the first time since April as Holy Cross comes to town. Friday's matchup gets underway at 3 p.m. while Sunday's action starts at 1 p.m.
 
RELATED LINKS
UMASS COVERAGE: ESPN+ | Live Stats
HOLY CROSS COVERAGE: AmericaEast.TV | Live Stats
 
HOW TO WATCH
Friday's matchup at UMass can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with a paid subscription and Sunday's game is available live and for free on AmericaEast.TV.
 
WEEKEND RECAP
The Catamounts are off to a 1-1 start on the strength of a season-opening 3-0 victory over Sacred Heart last Saturday. Clodagh Ferry scored twice in that victory – her first career multi-goal game. Lydia Maitland scored her second goal in three games dating back to last spring while Eileen King, Sophia Drees and Alina Gerke registered their first career points in the win. On Sunday, Sierra Espeland made a career-high 14 saves against No. 14 Syracuse but the Orange got the victory.
 
ESPELAND STANDS TALL
For the third time in her career, Sierra Espeland reached double-digit saves in a game when she made 14 stops against the Orange. She surpassed her former career-best 11 saves which she set back in 2019 against UAlbany.
 
FERRY DUST
Clodagh Ferry found the goal-scoring touch in the season-opening victory. After leading the team in shots last season but only scoring once, she scored twice on penalty corners and leads the team with five shots through the first two games.
 
DEFENSE, DEFENSE
Last season Vermont gave up just 2.00 goals per game to its opponents – the lowest total in head coach Kate Pfiefer's tenure in Burlington. Espeland posted a career-best 1.61 goals against average while the UVM defense allowed only 10.9 shots per game – the fewest since 2007.
 
SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN
Off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2017, UMass picked up wins over Northeastern and Maine during the opening weekend. Georgie McTear was named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Week after scoring two goals over the weekend while Marlise van Tonder gave up just two goals and earned A-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Minutewomen finished last spring with a 7-4 record including a 4-1 mark at home. This year, they were picked to finish third in the highly competitive A-10.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Holy Cross got the season off to a strong start, as well, picking up a 3-0 win over St. Francis (Pa.) last Friday. The Crusaders got goals from three different players and earned their first shutout since 2019 and season-opening victory since 2016. Defender Caitlin Little was a Preseason All-Patriot League selection while last spring's leading scorer Rachel Perry returns for her junior season.
 
SERIES HISTORIES
Friday will be the 18^th all-time matchup against UMass with the Minutewomen holding a 15-2 lead in the series. The Cats won their only two meetings in 2006 and 2007 but UMass has rattled off eight straight since including a 3-1 victory last spring. Holy Cross holds an 18-8 lead in the all-time series including three straight wins. Vermont picked up a 2-0 win in Worcester back in 2014 and the last matchup in Burlington was a narrow 1-0 Holy Cross vctory.
 
FALL 2021 FAN & VISITOR POLICY
UVM Athletics is excited to welcome fans back to the Archie Post Athletic Complex this fall. We are expecting full capacity crowds at Moulton Winder Field and Virtue Field for our field hockey and men's and women's soccer contests.
 
With the number of regional COVID-19 cases increasing, the University of Vermont is now requiring anyone in a campus building to wear a face covering - regardless of vaccination status. The policy went into effect on August 5 to aid in protecting our community from the spread of COVID-19. This includes those entering Gutterson Fieldhouse to use the restroom, pick up tickets or visit concessions.
 
In order to ensure the safety of students, staff and the community, UVM is now also expecting that all vaccine eligible visitors to campus, including fans attending athletic events, will be fully vaccinated.
 
Regardless of vaccination status we are encouraging all fans to continue to wear face coverings while at UVM Athletics sporting events.
 
While we anticipate these policies to last throughout the duration of the fall sports seasons, please continue to check UVMAthletics.com for updates as they are subject to change.